grassy carpet

**ole** · 12th Apr 2011, 13:20

hi,

i got a new 5G tank with neon tetra, otto, yamato shrimps, java moss, emerse water spirte and alternanthera sp.

i'm using gravel substrate

i'm wanting to have a "grassy carpet" feel for the bottom of my tank.

will my java moss spread on to the substrate or do i have to put a wire mash or something at the bottom of the tank so that they will spread and cling onto it?

what other plants can i get to form the grassy carpet which matches the aquarium ecosystem?

i understand java moss is kinda "bad tasting" so the fishie/shrimps/otto dun like to eat. any plants i can use for the grassy carpet that can supplement my fishie/shrimps/otto a bit without them going all crazy and eat the whole carpet before they grow proper?

**rexmus** · 14th Apr 2011, 18:08

Glasso also can carpet.........or us fissident on mesh

**Peanut8787** · 19th Apr 2011, 12:32

First of all, are you using CO2? For foreground plant mostly will need CO2 except mosses. If like HC, glosso, hairgrass they will survive with good development with CO2..

**ole** · 20th Apr 2011, 13:24

i'm not using CO2. trying to minimize the "extra" stuff i gonna do to it. wanting a more "natural" fish tank whereby it is relatively self-sustainable with enough fish density, lighting and filtering.

now i'm getting xmas moss for moss wall and dwarf chain sword fo carpet. both sounds like relatively fuss free. good to have extra CO2/fertiliser/strong lighting but can do without too according to websites.

**ZackZhou** · 21st Apr 2011, 03:38

According to website never worked for me. And probably you too, most of the time, when it's said they are not demanding, equals to the plant not dying. Your plants will not die, but they won't grow fast as well. For your chain sword to form a carpet.. 5 months? If you have the patience, you can do it. If not co2 and stronger light is a great add-on to your setup.

just IMO

**ZackZhou** · 21st Apr 2011, 03:40

I suppose that you do not have a chiller as well. Your Christmas moss will grow VERY slowly with temperature of 28 degrees above.

**ole** · 21st Apr 2011, 11:14

hmmm... thanks lots. i'm thinking maybe i'll "grow" my tank with strong input of CO2 and fertilizer (maybe with ice too) for 2 days without the fishes then resume normal activities after. probably will at least add those fertiliser pills in the gravel/soil though.

**ZackZhou** · 21st Apr 2011, 11:48

Ole, 2 days does not change a thing at all. Haha.

**ole** · 21st Apr 2011, 12:01

haha. then wat's the minimum length?

**ZackZhou** · 21st Apr 2011, 13:02

Strong light plus co2 make it pass the initial stage after algae bloom. Wait till stable growth without algae then gradually decrease light together with co2. If I were you, I'll do that

**Jolly_jubjub** · 25th Apr 2011, 02:27

Hey guys, I'm fairly new here, but I'm just doing a rescape on my 20 gallon planted tank and decided to use dwarf hairgrass and HC for the carpeted foreground. I think that I have have overestimated the foreground area I had available, so the dwarf hairgrass got planted and now the HC needs a place to live. Has anyone had experience trying to (very meticulously, I'm assuming) attach HC to driftwood or doing some other tiering effect with it? Or do you suggest just sacrificing some dwarf hairgrass for some HC space?
Thanks!